Buttress type dam



June 14, 1932; F. A. NoETzLl BUTTRESS`TYPE DAM 2 Sheets-Sheet l FiledMay 14, 1930 iii June 14, 1932. F. A. NOETZLI BUTTRESS TYPE DAM FiledMay 14. 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 .4; l few.

Patented June 14, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FRED A. NOETZLI, OFLOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR TO AMBURSEN CON- STRUCTION COMPANY,INCORPORATED, NEW YORK OF NE1L YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF BUTTRESSTYPE DAM Application led May 14,

This invention relates to improvements in dams and particularly todamsof the buttress type employing buttress heads and buttress walls.

, An object of the invention is to provide an 'improved dam constructionemploying buttress walls and buttress heads wherein the forward face ofthe buttress head is protected by a water proofing substance over whichis wlcast a slab facing, provision being made for draining away waterwhich may seep through the slab facingand collect against the waterproofing substance. In this respect the present application may beconsidered as diw visional of the subject matter disclosed in mycopending application Serial No. 220,197, filed September 17, 1927. As afeature of the above outlined construction the improved dam isadvantageous in that the interior of v 120 the buttress head iseffectively protected by the water proofing substance and forces areltransmitted through the slab facing and through the water proofingsubstance by direct compression so that a minimum. if any, bendingmoments will be developed in the concrete forming the buttress head:

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved dam of thebuttress type wherein the buttress head is longitudinally y divided by ajoint enabling contraction along predetermined lines. This aspect of theinvention contemplates the erection of a buttress type dam having largebuttress heads wherein the distance between the sides of a buttress headeXceds fifty or sixty feet so that some provision must be made forallowing the concrete to contract on` setting without resulting in thedestruction of the dam. This aspect of the invention also contemplatesthe provision of drains located at the rearward ends of the joints todrain off water which may enter the joints, preventing the'developmentof internal pressure on the interior of the buttress heads, and animportant function of the drains also resides in the fact that theyassist materially in the internal cooling of the dam.

A further object of the invention is to provide a dam of the headedbuttress type where- :1'0 in the buttress head is not only divided into1930. Serial No. 452,270.

sections by a longitudinal joint but also by lateral joints, enablingthe sections defined by the joints to move slightly with respect to eachother, if such movement should be required due to settling of thefoundation or earthquake faults. The arrangement of the lateral jointsis such that forces transmitted through the laterally extended joints bythe forward sections of the buttress head will be transmitted to thebuttress wall by direct compression, developing a minimum, if any,bending moments in the buttress head.

Another Object of the invention is to provide a dam having headed.buttress walls wherein the heads are spaced apart with a bridgingconstruction bridging the space between the heads and to provide such aconnection between the bridging construction and the buttress heads thatforces transmitted by the bridging constructions to the heads will betransmitted by direct compression so that a minimum, if any, bendingmoments will be developed in the heads.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved method ofconstructing dams which have their forward or up stream faces providedwith a layer of water proofing substance covered by a slab facing. Theimproved method facilitates thc construction of such type of dam.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, which will be mademanifest in the following detailed description, and specifically pointedout in the appended claims. reference is had to the accompanyingdrawings for an illustrative embodiment of the invention, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a vertical section through the improved dam and may heconsidered as having been taken upon the line 1 1 upon Fig. 2.

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section taken approximately upon the line 2-2upon Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section taken substantially upon the line 3 3upon Fig. 1.

Fig. l is a horizontal section taken substantially upon the line 11-4upon Fig. 1.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, wherein similar referencecharacters designate similar parte throughout, and considering first theconstruction of the dam near subsequently apply the water proofingsubits base, the improved dam comprises a plurality of parallel buttresswalls 10, shown on Figure 1 as having their rear faces upwardly andforwardly inclined as at 11. The specific nature of the construction ofthe buttress walls may vary under different circumstances. Each of thebuttress walls has at its forward or up stream end a buttress head,generally designated at 12, and in the construction illustrated thebuttress heads 12 near the base of the dam are of such width that theirsides are contiguous to one another. On the forward face of the buttresshead there is positioned a Water proofing substance indcated at 13 overVwhich there 1s cast a slab facingld. In the slab facing there areformed suitable `drains indicated lat 15 for draining od water which mayseep through the slab facing 1e and collect against the water proolingsubstance 13, preventing `the development of an internal pressure whichmight tend to separate the slab facing 14C from the water proofingsubstance 13 and the forward face of the buttress. ArThe water proongsubstance 13 may be of any suitable material but l refer to useGalvanized iron which may or may not be corrugated.

AOther substances lcarrying coatings of asphaltum maybe employed forvthis purposeif so desired. In erecting the dam with the coating ofwater proofing substance and the slab facing l prefer to first positionthe water proofing substance in place and then pour the buttress headsand the slab facing simultaneously so that the buttress head and therslab facing `will-be erected together. This facilitates greatly theconstruction of the slab facas on tall dams it is very frequently quited-iili ilt to first pour the buttress head and stance and pour the slab,facing there-against from the bottom'upwardly. The improved method ofsimultanenously pouring the buttress head and the slab facl ng.eliminates suoli difficulty.

f The buttress heads 12 at the base of the fdam are apt to be ofconsiderable Width,

which may exceed fifty or sixty feet. In this construction someprovision must be made to permit contraction of the concrete between thesides of the VVbuttress head. In

,the upper portion of Figure 2 there is illustrated -one constructionfor permitting such contraction. In thls buttress head there is jointmay be formed in any suitable manner, such as by positioning tarredpaper in the longitudinal ncenter of the buttress head which willeffectively Yprevent Ythe.bonding of 'the' concrete. across the joint.'Any other suitable method of establishing a joint at the center of thebuttress head maybe employed. Suitable reinforcing bars, such asindicated at 19, may extend across thel joint to effectively tie thesections 17 and 18 together without preventing the opening ofthe jointshould variations in conditions so require.

' At the rear end of the joint 16 there is formed a drain 2O whichserves to carry off any water which mayenterjoint 16, preventing thedevelopment of pressure on the interior of the buttress head. This drainalso facilitates the cooling of the interior of the buttress head.Suitable reinforcing bars, such as indicated at 21, may be positionedbehind the drain to effectively prevent the extension of joint 16 beyondthe 'drain into the buttress Wall 10.

In the center portion of Figure 2 thereY is formed a second form ofbuttress head embodying the invention. In this construction the buttresshead is longitudinally divided by a joint 22, similar in construction tooint 16., and having at its yrear end a drain 23. Lateral joints 24 and25 entend laterally from the drain 23 and these joints 1nay"be 90vertically stepped or keyed, as shown, jto prevent lateral ydisplacementlbetween the sections and if desired they may also be horizontallystepped or Vkeyed to. prevent vertical displacements.vv The arrangementofi95 these joints isl such Vthaty forces transmitted across them orfrom sections' 26 and 27 to thebuttress wall 10V will' be transmitted bydirect compression so that a' minimnin,

:if any7 bending moments will be developed1-00 on'the interior of thebuttress hea-d. Suitable reinforcing bars 28 may lee'-embedded 2in theforward end of the buttress 'wall 10 innnediy ately behind the lateraljoints 211 and 25. As

shown upon'ithe drawings, suitable ivater-105 stops 29 may extend acrossthe joints to prevent leakage.

. The above described construction is :em-

ployednear the baseof the dam wherein the construction of the buttresswalls and the; buttress heads must be comparatively massive. At'higherlocations on the dam, wherein the damis not subjected to such highpressures7 smaller vbuttress heads maybe Vemployed. On Figure3 thesmaller buttress ,i115

heads are designated by the reference character y31. Y These buttressheads are shown in spaced relation to one another and'if they are stillof considerable width they may :be provided with longitudinallyexteneliingjoints 32 which may be similar in constructionfto the joints16 or 22. A-bridgin-g constructionindicated at 33 serves to bridge thespace between adjacent buttress heads and in the construction shown inFigure 3 thisvbri'dging con'- struction may be in the form of a fflatslab. The line of uncture between the flat slab 133 and the buttress'head 31 is such that it Sis approximately -normalto al rad-'ius3rfrom acenter located near the rear-of the buttress head so that forcestransm-itted by the slab 33 to the buttress head will be transmitted bydirect compression, thus developing a minimum, if any, bending momentson the interior of the buttress head.

Near the top of the dam still smaller buttress heads may be employed,such as are shown on Figure 4. These buttress heads are indicated at 35and ordinarily will be of a sufficiently small width so that nolongitudinal joints need be employed therein, however, should theirwidth be fairly extensive, the longitudinal joints may be used if founddesirable. By virtue of the fact that the buttress heads 35 are smaller,they are spaced from each other a greater distance vand for these largedistances and comparatively low pressures I lind it desirable to employan arch 36 as the bridging construct-ion connecting adjacent but-tressheads. In a similar manner the juncture between a buttress head and theend of the arch is arranged approximatelynormal to the radius from acenter located near the rear of the buttress head so that forcestransmitted by the arch to the buttress head will be transmitted bydirect compression to eliminate bending moments being developed on theinterior of the head.

It will be noted that the entire construction is such that theelimination of bending moments being developed in the buttress head is aprimary objective. rlhe shape of the faces of the buttress heads isshown as being angular in form so that forces developed on the faces ofthe buttress head will be transmitted to the interior and to thebuttress wall b y direct compression. IVhile the Lbuttress head is shownas having an angular face it will be readily understood that around facemay be employed if desired. Such a round face as disclosed in my priorPatent No. 1,681,427, issued August 2l, 1928, may be employed ifdesired. Where the shape of the face of the buttress head is formed inthis manner thel forces transmitted through the slab facing 14 andthrough the water proofing substance will likewise be transmitted bydirect compression eliminating bending moments. Likewise where spacedbuttress heads are employed with bridging constructions be-y tween them,bending moments are effectively eliminated. The improved constructionalso provides for contraction of the concrete on expansive buttressheads and effectively prevents the development of internal pressure dueto any water entering the longitudinal joints. At the same time itprovides a construction facilitating the internal cooling.

While all of the various constructions are herein shown asbeingincorporated in the same dam, it will be readily understood thatall of the various constructions need not be associated together in thesame structure. is conditions varv either of the constructionskdisclosed on Figure 2 may be used alone, with or without theconstructions disclosed in Figures 3 and 4, and likewise in certaintypes of dams the construction disclosed in Figure 3 may be used alonewithout being arranged in conjunction with the other constructions. Thesame applies to the construction disclosed in Figure 4.

Various changes may be made in the details of construction withoutdeparting from the spirit or scope of the invention as delined by theappended claims.

I claim: A

l. In a dam, a buttress wall having a buttress head, the buttress headhaving a vertically extending joint formed therein extending fromadjacent its forward face rearwardly, there being'a drain formed in thebuttress head providing for draining off water which may enter thejoint.

2. In a dam, a buttress wall having a buttress head, there being` awater proofing substance over the forward face of the buttress head, anda slab facing over the water proofing substance, there being drainslocated in the facing next to the water proofing substance for drainingolf any water tending to collect against the water proofing substance.

3. In a dam, a buttress wall having a buttress head, there being a waterprooiing substance over the forward face of the buttress head, and aslab facing over the water proofing substance, there being a verticallyextending joint in the buttress head extending rearwardly from itsforward face.

4. In a dam, a buttress wall having a buttress head, there being avertically extending joint formed in the buttress head extendingrearwardly from its forward face, and means for preventing materialdisplacements between the sections of the buttress head defined by thejoint.

5. In a dam, a buttress wall having a buttress head, there being avertically exten ding joint formed in the buttress head extendingrearwardly from its forward face. there being additional upwardlyextending joints extending laterally from nea-r the rearward end of thefirst mentioned joint.

6. In a dam, a buttress wall having a buttress head, there being avertically extending joint formed in the buttress head extendingrearwardly from its forward face, there being additional upwardlyextending joints extending laterally from the rearward end of the firstmentioned joint, and a drain located at the juncture.

7. In a dam, a buttress wall having a buttress head, there being avertically extending joint formed in the buttress head extendingrearwardly from its forward face, there being additional upwardlyextending joints extending laterally from the rearward end of the firstmentioned joint, said joints being stepped or keyed to preventdisplacement.

8. The method of pouring a headed buttress :type rdain which .comprisespositioning ra. water fprooiingysnbstanee:adjacent what is 4to be Vthe'forward faee inf z the dem, gpouring -the .buttress .head 'zbehind the'water proofing substance, fand -simultaneouslyfponring; ,a Vslab ianingv against :the forward f side f of rthe Water prooiing substance.

.9. 'The method of '..pouringabnttress l'type Ldam havinga gjointentendingupwardly and 0 rearwardly .adj acent its forwardiace, whichcomprises pouring first a'portion of'the dam, then placing in advance ofpouring .and -holding inplace dnringpouring afsheet ofmaterial-extending in 'the direction of said joint, 5 and then pouring`concrete substantially simultaneously on `both sides of said-sheet.

10. The method .of pouring a `headed but- Itress dam .as describedinfclaim 9, :by .further placing adjacent to saidsheet means for dis- 0posing .of water that nmight accumulate in :said joint.

11. .A dam .comprising afbuttress wall and a buttress 4head 'supporti-ngthe .water pressure, the upstream .ffaceof :said -bnttress head 5,fhaving.snch a \coniguration that the water pressure is :transmitted bythe `fbuttress -head ,to thebuttress wall :substantially by directcompression, andafjoint .-i-n saidfbuttress head extending.substantially ,parallel fito the np- 9 stream fface.

l2. In .a dam, -bnttress `wall, a zlouttress head Yfor .the -walle,portions of which project laterally 'beyond lthe .sides .of `fthewall, there being a verticallyarranged -expansion -fjoint 0 acormedin:the l.butti-ess head extending from its .forward tace rearwardly.

In a dam, .a buttress wall, a :buttress .head lffor the -w-all portionsof which project laterally beyond the sides of the wall, there 0 .being.a :vertically :arranged expansion joint formed in the buttresshead/,extending from :its forward fface 4rearw.ardly, jand meansproyiding -a water drain fat :the rear end y.of :said lexpansion joint.f 5 14. fa dam, a lbuttress wall, ya fbuittress head for the -wallportions of which project vlaterally :beyond the .sides of .the wall,there being vertically .-a'nranged expansion joint lformed in thebuttress hea-d extending from o its dorward fface rearward-lsaid 'jointbeing irregular so Vas .to .lock :the 4port-ions .of fthe butt-ress.head defined thereby against `rmaterial relative displacements.

115. in -a dam, :a plurality .of fbnttress walls, aeach buttness w-.allhay-ingabuttress head portions of which project laterally beyond @thesides oi the wall, :said Alout-tress heads being con-tignonslypositioned and `bein-g Adeiined from Eeach :other :by Vvertical joints,vthere -beo .in-g Yvertically extending expansion joints --.ormed -inthe buttress heads which extend from their forward faces rearwardly.

. 116. In a dam, a pluralityno bu-ttress walls,- each -buttress wallhav-ing a y.buttress head '05. portions iofjwhic-h project laterallybeyond :thesideszofithewall,esaidbuttress'headsbeing vcontiguously`positioned -and *being .defined from eachother bynverticalgj oints,.there being .vertically extending eXp ansion -j oints formed in thebuttress heads which'extend from their .forward faces yreanwardly, andWater :stops EeXtendingfacross both sets of gjoints.

.117. .In :.a adam, a lbn'ttress wall, a :.buttress head for the wallportions :of which lproject `laterally .beyond .ftheesides fof the walland having portions of .its `water face near :its :center extendingfarther upstream than por- Itions Vat its sides, there :being :avertically arranged :expansion .ij oint dormed fin ,the llout- :tiresshead rextending from its .forward tace rearwardly, `and 'additional4expansion ijom'ts '..diverging rearwardly from the -rear end of Lsaidexpansion :j oint.

:18. .In f a .damfa plurality -of 'bnttress walls,

each :buttress wall having :a Abuttress head,

saidv .buttress iheads being .spaced :from each Dother, means 'bridgingthe vspace between `adjacent :buttress heads, the engaging :surfacebetween'said means and a buttressheadrbeing arranged :approximatelyperpendicular `to 'a' radius dra-wn rom -a point `located :down-.streannofsaidzsurface 19. In a danna,pluralityiofbuttress wal-ls,

each `bnttresswallhaving:a'buttress head portions .of which yprojectlaterally Vbeyond @the -sides of the Wal-l, said buttress :heads Abei-ng'spaced :from each other, bridging means bridging .thespaceYbetweenfadjacentbuttress heads, Vportions of Athe fbuttress headsbetween the bridging means :being-exposed to water pressure, there beingvertically' extendingerpansion joints formed in rthe :buttress vheads.extending from their .forward faces rear- -wardly .20.. In-a dam, 1aplurality-o buttress walls,

.'eachbuttress wal-l havingfa bnttress head portions of which projectlaterally beyond .the 'sides of :the wall, :said bnttress 'heads being Y.spaced from eachother,-bridgingslabs-bridgf ing-thespacebetweenadjacentbuttressheads,

`portions of the buttress heads between :the -bridgingslabs beingexposed to water pressure, the engaging surfaces between ya :bridgyingslab and a -bnttress head being Aforwardly sion joint verticallyarranged inthe butt-ress hea-d and extending .from adjacent its forwardvface rearwardly.

22. In a dam, abuttress wal-l which .is structurally .substantiallyindependentsof ethe :rest o-the dam and ha-Vinga buttress headsubject towater pressure, there being an expansion joint vertically arranged inthe buttress head and extending from adjacent its forward facerearwardly, and means arranged adjacent the rear end of said expansionjoint for preventing extension of the joint.

28. In a dam, a plurality of substantially independent huttress walls,at least some of said walls having buttress heads subject to waterpressure, there being an expansion joint vertically arranged in eachbuttress head and extending from adjacent its forward face rearwardly, awaterproofing substance over the forward end of the joint, and a slabfacing over the waterproofing substance.

24. In a dam, a buttress wall having a buttress head subject to waterressure, there being an expansion joint vertically arranged in thebuttress head and extending from adjacent its forward face rearwardly,means tending to prevent water from entering the forward end of thejoint, and means for draining o water which might enter the joint.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

FRED A. NOETZLI.

